Today, the members of Heelans Flying Circus gathered at Andrewsfield for another sortie. The plan went as follows: Fly to Sywell then on to Wycombe  Air Park via the Daventry VOR, to add a few extra miles for those doing the second leg and have a gawp at Silverstone race circuit from the air.

We all arrived at Andrewsfield bright and early apart from the HFC party animal, Steve R – who had again been out the night before and would be flying later in the afternoon! Enough said.

Rob refueling. Wingco refueling.

Today we had just three aeroplanes piloted by 8 captains!

Also hitching a ride today we had, Nick and Adrian (currently strapped for cash) riding in DH and Sam riding in UD making notes on how not to navigate!

Steve and Sam. Nick and Richard.

The weather was perfect. Warm, glorious sunshine, a brisk breeze down the runway, cloud at a couple of thousand feet. Let’s go ……

Chariots. Power checks.

All saddled up, we head off to the north. Shane taking the lead in XK, followed by Peter commanding UD and then Wingco in DH. The planned route took us overhead Haverhill on towards Cambridge then an almost a straight line to Sywell. I must point out that I, Nick, was today in the back of the DH without any intercom to hear any radio transmissions and therefore I must assume that there wasn’t any of the deliberate mistakes that we have all come to know and love that we do to keep ATC fully alert!

Sywell lost. Sywell found.

We all seemed to find Sywell without any serious problems. DH arrived first – becoming customary now! Must remember it is not a race……! Followed by UD  and XK in close formation. I think there is only one minor point to raise on the journey to Sywell that is worthy of a mention. That is a reminder to everyone that the Mixture is the ‘Red’ lever………….

‘Oh look, that wasn’t there before’ was to be heard after disembarking our chariots. A new restaurant and seating area has been built at Sywell, off we go and sample the all day breakfast and or bacon sandwiches! On the apron at Sywell today was a fleet of 4 Extra’s – the new display team The Blades (I think), a big twin (Richard will know what it was) firing up and a lovely Tiger Moth doing pleasure flights.

Tiger Moth. A Blades' Extra.

Most of us decided to opt for the usual vast intake of calories in the new restaurant whilst admiring the view – inside and outside…….. I’m sure you  know what I mean!

After a while we thought we had better make the PPR call to Wycombe to make sure they will accept us. Ah, 1000ft cloud base... well let’s go anyway. We can always change our intentions. Back in the flying machines, Darren is now commanding XK for the first time with passengers, Richard has swapped seats with Wingco in DH and Rob has jumped from P2 to P1 in UD. Wycombe here we come……….

UD. XK.

The next thing we all knew we were all parked up at Turweston. A lovely little airfield but not Wycombe Air Park. So what happened? A weather diversion was the official word. We had all been forced lower and lower en route to the Daventry VOR so it was the right thing to do. The ground rises up around there and everything was closing in.

On the ground at Turweston. A proper Cessna STOL.

The few who hadn’t eaten at Sywell were now re-thinking their decision as the café at Turweston was closed today. Still, we were made very welcome and I for one would have no problem making a return visit sometime. I don’t know if Richard feels the same though, after being reminded of the local circuit pattern whilst trying to find the airfield, and set up DH for landing in the deteriorating conditions. All we actually wanted to do was get down on the ground.

Turweston aircraft. Turweston spares.

Once on the ground Wingco pointed out where we had gone wrong. Adrian was with us today. Every time he flies with us we have to divert?! Are we jinxed!?! I don’t think so, just an unfortunate coincidence.

After a rest and many discussions about the cloud base and weather conditions we were standing on the apron deciding whether to go or not. A based aircraft had been up and come back after a quick local flight.

Discussing the weather. Whether to go or not.

Wingco took charge and announced he would flip a coin, 'heads we go, tails we wait a bit longer'. Heads it was – scramble!!!!Goodness knows what those watching us thought?!

Silverstone. Stewertby.

Cardington. Old Warden.

Top Farm. Bassingbourn.

As we departed Turweston, Richard was still P1 in DH, Steve R had now taken the controls in UD and Paul was at the helm in XK. We had all decided to head back due east to find the nicer weather. We tracked just north of Silverstone race circuit – looks quiet today, north of Cranfield’s ATZ, overhead Bedford, just south of Top Farm, through the Duxford overhead and on to Haverhill where we all descend and head south for home. Through the Andrewsfield overhead, descend deadside and join downwind for runway 27.

Andrewsfield. Cloudy, but blue.

Quite a bumpy ride was had by all on the way back and we were all relieved to see the clouds up higher and visibility much improved.

So all in all, quite an eventful day again in the great company of Heelans Flying Circus. However, it did seem a little quiet. Ah, no Jaen…………! That’s it.

[Text: Nick] [Photos: Shane, Nick, Richard, Pete, Rob & Steve, click to view full size, click here to see the them all]